The sunshine heavyweight division may crown a brand new No. 1 contender at UFC 308 when Magomed Ankalaev faces Aleksandar Rakic, however lately retired UFC veteran Matt Brown believes 205-pound champion Alex Pereira ought to maintain out hope for one more choice as a substitute.
As a lot as Ankalaev seems to be the rightful challenger with a 12-fight unbeaten streak, Pereira has choices out there to him after defending his belt 3 times in 2024, which included stepping up when the UFC wanted him on a pair completely different events. As a result of Pereira possible has sufficient sway proper now to name his shot for what comes subsequent, Brown says the Brazilian champion ought to simply wait a number of weeks to see if Jon Jones will get by means of Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 and discover out of that’s a struggle that might be out there for him.
“You wait,” Brown mentioned on the most recent episode of The Fighter vs. The Author. “Everyone’s right. The person who loses in all of this sadly is Ankalaev. He’s performed all the suitable issues, particularly if he goes out and beats Rakic, does all the suitable issues and he will get f*cked and it’s not even an enormous identify or something. However yeah, in the event you’re Alex Pereira, you don’t want to provide a f*ck about Ankalaev’s life. You’re coping with your individual shit.
“You completely go as much as heavyweight, 100%. There’s by no means been a three-weight champion so be the primary or shoot for these stars. You possibly can at all times come again and struggle Ankalaev later. Completely go for it.”
Having already conquered the sunshine heavyweight and middleweight divisions, Pereira has teased his curiosity in doubtlessly shifting to heavyweight however admitted after his most up-to-date win over Khalil Rountree Jr. that the method would take a while.
Regardless of his peak and enormous body, Pereira nonetheless wants so as to add some extra dimension and muscle to take care of a lot greater opponents however an opportunity to tangle with arguably the best fighter of all-time may be too tempting to withstand.
On the flipside, Jones has teased that his struggle towards Miocic might be the ultimate look of his profession. Nonetheless, Brown can’t assist however surprise if the potential for a matchup towards Pereira may simply be precisely the type of alternative that retains the reigning UFC heavyweight champion round for a short time longer.
“I don’t doubt this might be as massive as any Conor [McGregor] struggle,” Brown mentioned. “This might be promoted to the max. They might do it [International] Struggle Week or one of many gigantic playing cards possibly on the Sphere, one thing loopy. This might be monumental. Jon’s a sensible man. He’s right here for the cash now, I believe. Legacy and cash and Alex goes to carry that. It might be promoted as a lot as you wish to promote. This might be the cash struggle. It’s heavyweight, too. Heavyweight fights at all times carry a stigma to them that these lighter fights simply don’t carry. Like Conor clearly introduced the trash speak and all of the antics, the humorous stuff and the cool stuff, there’s a sure aura when Conor comes into the cage.
“However there’s a unique aura that may be bought right here when Jon Jones, the best of all-time, who simply beat the best heavyweight of all-time — assuming that occurs — combating one other man making an attempt to do the most important factor of all-time, [become] a three-weight world champion. I can’t consider a much bigger struggle outdoors of Conor, however I believe it might be as massive as any Conor struggle.”
With Jones scheduled to struggle Miocic in November, Brown pitched the concept Pereira must be entrance and middle for that matchup to begin constructing in direction of an eventual showdown subsequent yr.
Pereira staring a gap by means of Jones won’t materialize right into a struggle however Brown feels prefer it’s too attractive of a chance to go on given the present panorama within the UFC.
“Be there at [Madison Square Garden] and no matter occurs, occurs. So long as Jon wins, we are able to set this up,” Brown mentioned. “Often when the principle occasion ends, all of us flip it off or individuals begin leaving the stadium. Alex Pereira walks in there, individuals may flip round and return to their seat.
“If Jon goes on the market and wins, the celebs have f*cking aligned completely to have an excellent explosion. Once more, I believe it might be the most important struggle since Conor. I believe it might match Conor’s [fights]. How a lot enjoyable might you will have with the marketing of this? So many routes you would take. So many angles you would take. What two good guys to be selling, too. I really like listening to Jon Jones speak shit. He’s so stoic with it, critical and Alex is the proper rival to it. The proper man to speak again. The press conferences, the whole lot about this simply says cash within the bag.”
That mentioned, Brown closely favors Jones to win ought to that struggle truly occur however maybe a good greater impediment to that potential matchup awaits at UFC 309.
“Realistically although, it’s onerous to suppose that Jon Jones make this a fairly simple struggle [with Alex Pereira],” Brown mentioned. “Take him down, elbow his face, get your cash, go dwelling, in all probability not a scratch on you. It’s onerous to consider that’s not how this ends.
“Jon Jones has received to get by means of Stipe first. Let’s not neglect that. Stipe shouldn’t be a walkover. Stipe shouldn’t be a simple struggle. He’s received to get by means of him first. [Jon Jones] hasn’t been examined like that at heavyweight. Don’t low cost Stipe surprising all people and being like “f*ck your Jon Jones-Alex Pereira struggle.’”
